(Note: This is part one of an eleven-part series.)

My Reasons for This Eleven-Part Series

The U.S. Constitution

I’ve given a great deal of consideration to what I believe is wrong with the way we run our nation, The United States of America. There are many obvious problems that are bantered back and forth between politicians, special interest groups and the Citizenry. But, I’m referring to the less obvious things—the unfortunate embedded givens. Thoughts that we have been conditioned to accept; ideas that have been twisted and misrepresented; things that I consider really and truly wrong.

I know that these ideas will not sit well with many people—especially groups or individuals who lose a coveted advantage, should some of these thoughts be seriously considered. Frankly, I don’t give a damn. I’m speaking my mind here, and I will be heard. Besides… those coveted advantages, more often than not, exist at the expense of equality—something our nation must have to survive. At least I’m speaking my ideas. What are you doing?

Until such time that I have had the opportunity to thoroughly examine the intricacies of the documents our nation was founded upon, I stand by these suggestions. And examining the intricacies of those documents is no easy task. Many scholars have dedicated a lifetime in that pursuit. But, I believe my country calls upon all of us to speak out—now; to voice our opinions in a joined, cacophonous voice until civil dialogue can resolve any conflicts of ideas through compromise, concession and majority opinion. I tell you now; I will no longer sit idly by and shake my head at the absurdity of political banter. We have to start somewhere and I am starting here.

My Concerns

Holding public office in our nation should be an extremely undesirable job for those wishing to fatten their purses. To clarify:

Politician’s salaries should directly mirror the average income of the people they directly represent.

Politicians should not be allowed to vote on issues directly affecting their own income.

Lobbying should be recognized as legalized bribery and completely abolished.

The exercise of the right to Freedom of Speech should be clarified by Amendment to eradicate any freedom of false speech (lying).

The exercise of the right to Freedom of The Press should be clarified by Amendment to eradicate any freedom of false propaganda (lying).

We need to re-examine who can be appointed to office and who must be elected.

The exercise of a Right should not, in any way, be conditional upon arbitrary requirements.

“Arbitrary”, “Reasonable”, “Unreasonable”, “Timely”, “Certain” and similar legal words should be clarified by Amendment and not open to interpretations that vary by a court’s mood or political feelings.

A Threat to National Security should require explicit definition of the perceived threat to be ratified by The People on a regular basis. We have been shown that government can’t handle this simple task. Give it back to The People. This should be approached from a direction clearly designed to protect State’s Rights and The People that make up our nation.

Every law should have an expiration date, within the lifetime of its approvers.

The U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and other founding documents need to be ratified every 100 years to ensure that the unknown future is incorporated into their making.

I look forward to your comments. Please try to target your response to these 10 concerns in the blog entry for that particular issue. If the discussion of these concerns interests you, follow this blog and join in as I expound upon each of these issues in subsequent blog entries.